West Sussex · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Elsted Marsh, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Elsted Marsh. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Sharing tapas starters
Tapas catering for Elsted Marsh events
How our tapas catering works in Elsted Marsh
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. We are frequently asked to cater receptions and drinks parties and birthday drinks, with Manchego with membrillo, tortilla española and albóndigas.
For a country party near Elsted Marsh, tapas and sangria set the mood. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Where
- Elsted Marsh (GU29)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in Elsted Marsh has daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Related guides
Live paella or other catering?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Catering across West Sussex, including Elsted Marsh
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Check diets in advance
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Elsted Marsh: your questions answered
Is Elsted Marsh close to London?
About 47 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Drinks receptions around Elsted Marsh
Elsted Marsh is about 6 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Elsted Marsh, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in 371 places across West Sussex. Our events stretch from Elsted Marsh to Guildford (21 miles away).
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St George's Church. Historic houses near Elsted Marsh include Cowdray House (3.5 miles east) and Uppark (3.9 miles south-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Elsted Marsh, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Wherever your event is in GU29, we can bring tapas catering to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Ingrams Green (1 mile east), Dumpford (1 mile north), Trotton (1 mile north), Elsted (1 mile south-west) and Didling (1 mile south). Further out, we also cater in Bognor Regis (14 miles south-east), Chichester (10 miles south), Emsworth (10 miles south-west), Portfield (10 miles south), Yapton (14 miles south-east) and East Wittering (15 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Museum (3.2 miles east) and Midhurst Community Hospital (3.5 miles east). Not far away are Iping and Stedham Commons.
- Local pubs include The Keeper's Arms Public House (1 mile north)
Nearby places to Elsted Marsh
What else we do in Elsted Marsh
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, often with ham or mushroom.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Travel, parking and access
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Who books tapas catering in Elsted Marsh?
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Table tapas as a starter
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Evening grazing
If you are looking at a historic venue around Elsted Marsh, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
What your quote should include
- How long the team stays
- The deposit and payment dates
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How bad weather is handled
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff